Trump ally Lindsey Graham seeks China sanctions over #coronavirus probe

A leading US Republican senator proposed legislation on Tuesday that would authorise the US president to impose far-reaching sanctions on China if it fails to give a full account of events leading to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President Donald Trump, said he was convinced that had it not been for “deception” by China’s ruling Communist Party, the virus would not be in the United States, where it has now killed more than 80,000 Americans.
Graham said China had refused to allow investigators to study how the outbreak started and added in a statement: “I’m convinced China will never cooperate with a serious investigation unless they are made to do so.”
Trump critics, including some former officials, academics and columnists, have said that while China has much to answer for, the US administration appears to be seeking to deflect attention from what they see as a slow US response to the crisis.